Athletic shoe cleat

ABSTRACT

A removable athletic shoe cleat wherein a generally frustoconical body portion, between a base and tip, provides a combination of angular gripping corners at and adjacent the tip and a plurality of upstanding gripping members adjacent the base.

United States Patent Gustin Aug. 12, 1975 [5 ATHLETIC SHOE CLEAT3,413,737 l2/l968 Kneebusch 36/67 D 3,494,055 2/1970 McSorley 36/67 D[76] Invent: Paul P 1766 Langpon 3,512,275 5/1970 Leavitt 36/67 D Ave.,Balt1more, Md. 21222 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: Mar.26, 1974 l 28,114 1913 Umted Kingdom 36/67 R [21] Appl. No.: 455,028

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson 7 D Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John J.Selko [52] U.S. Cl 36/6 [51] Int. Cl. A43c 15/00 [58] Field of Search36/67 R, 67 A, 67 B, 67 C, 57 ABSTRACT l A removable athletic shoe cleatwherein a generally [561 2153562231,,fizizatsmngzizf115621 2012132;

UNITED STATES PATENTS and adjacent the tip and a plurality of upstandinggrip- 1,827,514 10 1931 Golden 36/67 D ping members adjacent the base2,185,397 l/l940 Birchfield 36/67 D 2,509,980 5/1950 McCalIum 36/67 D 8Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ATHLETIC srroa CLEAT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a cleat for an athletic shoe, andmore particularly to a removable cleat for a football shoe, which cleatprovides improved traction on dirt, grass, and artificial playingsurfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide anathletic shoe cleat with improved traction.

This object can be achieved in a cleat providing a body portionintermediate the tip and base having a plurality of longitudinal groovesextending into the tip. The grooves and body portion intersect to formangular gripping corners on the body portion and tip. In additionthereto, can be provided a plurality of upstanding longitudinal grippingmembers on the body portion adjacent the base, which gripping membersand gripping corners in combination improve the gripping power of thecleat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an elevational view of thecleat of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal view of the cleat of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the circled portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational cross sectional view taken along lines 4--4 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view with parts removed, of the cleat of thisinvention engaging a wrench used to replace the cleat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly tothe drawings, the best mode contemplated for carrying out the object ofthis invention is illustrated.

FIG. 1 shows a cleat 1 having a base 3 and a generally horizontal tip 5,with an intermediate body portion 7. The body portion 7 forms agenerally frustoconical sur face which converges downwardly from base 3to tip 5.

The body portion 7 and tip 5 intersect to form angular edge 9, althoughedge 9 could be somewhat rounded.

A plurality of longitudinal grooves 11 are shown spaced at equalintervals in body 7 adjacent tip 5. The grooves 7 extend into or throughthe tip 5, as shown in FIG. 2, forming opening 13 therein, when viewedhorizontally. The grooves 11 begin at about the middle of body 7 anddeepen as they extend toward tip 5.

Edge 9 when viewed horizontally, as in FIG. 2, forms a generallycircular shape lying on the surface of body 7. The circular-shaped edge9 is divided into a plurality of arcuate segments 15 spaced apart bygrooves 11 which extend radially on tip 5. Grooves 1 1 need not extendradially, however.

Referring to FIG. 3, sides 17 and 17' of groove 11 intersect with body 7to form angular gripping corners 19 and 19' on body 7 for improvedtraction. Sides 17 and 17 also intersect edge 9 to form angular grippingcorners 21 on tip 5 for improved traction.

Adjacent base 3 on body 7 is a plurality of upstanding longitudinalgripping members 23 spaced at equal intervals. Gripping members 23 beginon body 7 intermediate base 3 and tip 5 and gradually increase in heightas they approach base 5. Gripping members 23 provide gripping means forengagement with a suitable wrench 25 for loosening and tightening asshown in FIG. 5. Upstanding gripping members 23 also provide improvedtraction, and in combination with gripping corners l9, l9, and 21 resultin a cleat which provides improved gripping power, as well as a cleatwhich permits easy pivoting and turns of direction by the wearer.

Each upstanding member 23 is shown aligned with a corresponding groove11 but they could be nonaligned without loss of effectiveness.

Iprefer to space 16 grooves l 1 and 16 gripping members 23 around body7, although other numbers would do as well.

The cleat may be attached to a shoe in any suitable manner. As shown inFIG. 4, I prefer a centrally located recess 27 in base 3 which ispresented toward the sole of the shoe. Internally threaded metal insert29, preferably a square nut, is positioned within body 7 for receivingan externally threaded shoe stud (not shown) which is fastened to theshoe, as is well known. The bore 31 of insert 29 is axially aligned withthe axis of body 7 and recess 27.

At the bottom of recess 27 shoulder portion 33 tapers to cover most ofthe outward surface of insert 29, leaving a small circumferential area35 exposed to permit cleat 1 to contact the shoe stud without anyinterference.

Adjacent the inward side of insert 29 is a tapered stud-receivingaperture 37 axially aligned with bore 31 and recess 27. The surface 39which defines aperture 37 extends into bore 31 to cover the last thread41. Therefore, the horizontal dimension 43 of aperture 37 adjacentinsert 29 is smaller than that of bore 31, insuring that the tip of theshoe stud will extend into surface 39 when the cleat is screwed on,locking the cleat to the stud.

In FIG. 5 is shown wrench 45 suitable for replacing the cleats of thisinvention. A head 47 forms internal surface 49 in which is locatedcavity 5] for receiving cleat l. A plurality of grooves 53 are spacedaround internal surface 49. Each groove 53 corresponds to and engages amating upstanding gripping member 23 to provide the gripping means forturning the cleat l.

Wrench 45 has shank 55 and handle 57 formed unitary with reenforcementribs 59.

I prefer to make the cleat 1 from a rigid injection molded polyurethanebut other materials such as hard rubber or nylon will do.

Cleat 1 can also be made integral with a shoe sole rather thanremovable.

I claim:

1. A cleat for a football shoe or the like comprising:

a. a base;

b. a tip;

0. a frustoconical body portion converging downwardly from said base tosaid tip, said body portion and said tip intersecting to form an edge;

d. a plurality of longitudinal grooves in said body portion, saidgrooves extending into said tip;

e. the intersection of the sides of said grooves with said body portionand said edge forming angular gripping corners on said body portion andsaid tip; and

f. a plurality of upstanding longitudinal gripping members on said bodyadjacent said base portion.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said grooves are spaced on saidbody portion in equal intervals.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which said gripping members are spaced onsaid body portion in equal intervals.

4. The invention of claim 3 in which each of said grooves is alignedwith a corresponding gripping memher.

5. The invention of claim 1 in which said edge, when viewedhorizontally, forms a generally circular shape having arcuate segmentsspaced apart by said grooves.

6. The invention of claim 5 in which said grooves,

when viewed horizontally, extend radially of said circular tip.

7. A cleat for a football shoe or the like comprising:

a. a base;

b. a tip;

0. a body portion intermediate said tip and said base, said body portionand said tip intersecting to form an edge;

d. a plurality of longitudinal grooves in said body portion, saidgrooves extending into said tip, each of said grooves beginning on thesurface of said body portion and deepening as it extends into said tip;and

e. the intersection of the sides of said grooves with said body portionand said edge forming angular gripping corners on said body portion andsaid tip.

8. A cleat for a football shoe or the like comprising:

a. a base;

b. a tip;

0. a body portion intermediate said tip and said base, said body portionand said tip intersecting to form an edge, said body portion forattachment to said shoe including;

i. an internal recess in said base;

ii. an internally threaded metal insert within said body portionadjacent said recess having a bore axially aligned with said bodyportion; and

iii. an aperture adjacent the inward side of said metal insert axiallyaligned with said bore, said aperture having a smaller horizontaldimension than said bore;

d. a plurality of longitudinal grooves in said body portion, saidgrooves extending into said tip; and

e. the intersection of the sides of said grooves with said body portionand said edge forming, angular gripping comers on said body portion andsaid tip.

1. A cleat for a football shoe or the like comprising: a. a base; b. atip; c. a frustoconical body portion converging downwardly from saidbase to said tip, said body portion and said tip intersecting to form anedge; d. a plurality of longitudinal grooves in said body portion, saidgrooves extending into said tip; e. the intersection of the sides ofsaid grooves with said body portion and said edge forming angulargripping corners on said body portion and said tip; and f. a pluralityof upstanding longitudinal gripping members on said body adjacent saidbase portion.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in which said grooves arespaced on said body portion in equal intervals.
 3. The invention ofclaim 2 in which said gripping members are spaced on said body portionin equal intervals.
 4. The invention of claim 3 in which each of saidgrooves is aligned with a corresponding gripping member.
 5. Theinvention of claim 1 in which said edge, when viewed horizontally, formsa generally circular shape having arcuate segments spaced apart by saidgrooves.
 6. The invention of claim 5 in which said grooves, when viewedhorizontally, extend radially of said circular tip.
 7. A cleat for afootball shoe or the like comprising: a. a base; b. a tip; c. a bodyportion intermediate said tip and said base, said body portion and saidtip intersecting to form an edge; d. a plurality of longitudinal groovesin said body portion, said grooves extending into said tip, each of saidgrooves beginning on the surface of said body portion and deepening asit extends into said tip; and e. the intersection of the sides of saidgrooves with said boDy portion and said edge forming angular grippingcorners on said body portion and said tip.
 8. A cleat for a footballshoe or the like comprising: a. a base; b. a tip; c. a body portionintermediate said tip and said base, said body portion and said tipintersecting to form an edge, said body portion for attachment to saidshoe including; i. an internal recess in said base; ii. an internallythreaded metal insert within said body portion adjacent said recesshaving a bore axially aligned with said body portion; and iii. anaperture adjacent the inward side of said metal insert axially alignedwith said bore, said aperture having a smaller horizontal dimension thansaid bore; d. a plurality of longitudinal grooves in said body portion,said grooves extending into said tip; and e. the intersection of thesides of said grooves with said body portion and said edge formingangular gripping corners on said body portion and said tip.